SIXTY baby orphaned kangaroos and wallabies will be more comfortable this Christmas, thanks to the efforts of Beaconhills College students.
Year 7 Textiles students have been busy sewing 60 macropod pouch liners to donate to the Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service.
The liners are used in knitted pouches, which help keep kangaroo and wallaby joeys warm and quiet during different stages of development.
Teacher Mary Gast said she was always on the lookout for textiles projects that gave back to communities, and found the project on Facebook.
“I thought it would be a simple one to do that students would enjoy,” she said.
“Students had already learned most of the required skills, although these Year 7s were also taught how to use an overlocker, as everything needed to be finished nicely so the joeys don’t get their little toes caught in anything.”
She said classes competed to see which one could make the most liners.
“One class even organised themselves to work more efficiently, with some students cutting, some straight-sewing and some overlocking to finish,” she said.
“It was wonderful to see them enthusiastic about completing something for the benefit of the environment.”
Encouraging students to be responsible stewards of the environment is one of the college’s ‘Learning that Matters’ principles.
